Is it Illegal to Park on a Speed Bump in Australia?
Can you park on a speed bump in Australia without getting in trouble?
Speed bumps are primarily used on residential streets to slow drivers down and create a safer environment, encouraging drivers to reduce their speed to 20 km/h or less.
While we know that speeding over a speed bump is against the rules of the road, what about parking on one? Could it result in a hefty fine?
We’ve spoken to road and traffic authorities in every state and territory, and the answer is no, it’s not illegal to park on a speed bump in Australia, most of the time.
Generally speaking, you can park on a speed bump as long as other parking rules are not violated.
For example, a spokesperson for South Australia’s Department of Infrastructure and Transport said: “Traffic rules do not specifically prohibit parking on a speed bump.”
However, “the devices are installed to calm traffic, so other road rules may apply. For example, a driver cannot park on a speed bump if there is a solid yellow line on the edge of the road. [It is located on]. A driver should also not park on a raised pedestrian crossing.”
Image: iStock
The distinction between speed bumps and raised crosswalks is important, as the latter is not an acceptable parking location.
Under Australian Highway Rule 172, drivers “must not stop at a pedestrian crossing that is not at an intersection, or on the road within 20 meters before the crossing and 10 meters after the crossing unless the driver stops at a place along the road, or in an area, to which a parking control signal applies and the driver may stop at that place under the Australian Highway Rules.”
It is also important to note that parking issues outside of Australian road rules are often the responsibility of local governments.
Wherever you choose to park across the country, it is always the driver’s duty to check road markings and parking signs to ensure you are parking correctly and in accordance with local parking rules.
“Individual states and territories are responsible for road laws such as parking and speed,” a spokesperson for the Australian Capital Territory Department of Infrastructure and Transport said.
“While the Australian Government, through the National Transport Commission (NTC), develops and publishes the Australian traffic rules, they are a guide and are not legally binding on jurisdictions.”
Always make sure you choose a safe parking spot for the safety of you and your passengers, and if you follow the rules of road markings and parking signs, you probably won’t have any problems parking on a speed bump.
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